Slang Words That Mean Police: Urban, Historical & More

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Plus, some police lingo and how it’s used
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Police. Yeah, we all know who they are, but do you know everything they can and could be called? We scoured the internet for the most popular police nicknames and slang terms and compiled them into this article. Keep reading to learn slang terms for police (plus, some bonus police lingo).

Popular Slang for Police

  • Barney describes an overly excitable officer.
  • Boys in Blue refers to law enforcement as a whole.
  • Fuzz is an old-school nickname for police officers.
  • Pig is a derogatory name for an officer.
  • Smokey refers to a policeman in general.
Section 1 of 3:

Slang for Police Officers

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  1. “Barney” is an American slang term for police that comes from the popular 1960s sitcom The Andy Griffith Show . The term is used to describe officers who are overly excitable or energetic, similar to the show’s goofy deputy sheriff Barney Fife, played by Don Knotts.
  2. 2
    Bobbies on the Beat In Britain, “Bobbies on the Beat” is a slang term often used to refer to police officers. The term describes officers with tall, rounded hats, billy clubs, and whistles, which are commonly seen in movies and pop culture featuring London. [1]
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  3. 3
    Boys in Blue “Boys in Blue” is an American nickname for police officers that refers to the blue uniform. Blue is often associated with law enforcement, as the uniforms have traditionally been navy blue for centuries.
  4. 4
    Cop “Cop” is the most commonly used slang term for police officers in America. The term dates all the way back to the 1800s, where policemen were called “coppers” due to their copper badges. [2]
  5. 5
    Dick “Dick” is an American slang term for a detective. While the exact origin of this term is unknown, many believe the usage began after criminals gave detectives the nickname in the 1900s. The term became more mainstream with the popularity of the Dick Tracy comic strips, which feature a detective named Dick. [3]
  6. 6
    Five-O In America, police officers are often referred to as “Five-O,” thanks to the popular 1960s show Hawaii Five-O. The show centered around detectives in Hawaii and characters referred to themselves on the job as “five-O.” Since then, the nickname has stuck. [4]
  7. 7
    Fuzz “Fuzz” was a common slang term for police in America around the 1960s and 1970s. While the term isn’t as well-known today, it may still be heard from older generations or spotted in older entertainment. The exact origin of “fuzz” is unknown, with some believing the nickname refers to the short, high-and-tight haircuts those in law enforcement tend to have, or it being an abbreviation of “the force.” [5]
  8. 8
    Gravel Road Cops In Canada, law enforcement that rides on horses may be called “Gravel Road Cops.” This nickname stems from the French term for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police: Gendarmerie Royale du Canada (or GRC for short). [6] People have since altered the GRC acronym to stand for “Gravel Road Cops.”
  9. 9
    Gumshoe “Gumshoe” is an American slang term that refers to stealthy detectives. [7] These detectives know how to hide from and trail criminals in plain sight. “Gumshoe” is believed to come from the 1900s, as detectives often wore shoes with gum rubber soles that never squeaked.
  10. 10
    Mountie “Mountie” is a Canadian slang term used to describe police officers on horseback. This is the most common nickname for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and is used amongst citizens and officers alike. [8]
  11. 11
    Nicker “Nicker” is a slang term used to describe the police in Britain. This term is used similarly to America’s “cops.” Those in the UK might also refer to arrests as “nicks” or “nicked.” [9]
  12. 12
    PC In Canada, “PC” is short for local constables, specifically in Ontario. The term is simply an abbreviation of the officer’s official title “provincial constable.” [10]
  13. 13
    Pig In America, “pig” is a derogatory term to describe law enforcement. The term is often used to discredit or show displeasure toward a police officer. [11]
  14. 14
    Plodder In Britain, police officers may be referred to as “plodders,” thanks to the popular children’s book and television series Noddy . In the books, there’s a recurring policeman character named Mr. Plod who’s extremely joyful and friendly. [12]
  15. 15
    Po-Po “Po-Po” is a well-known slang term for police in America that became popular in the 1990s. While the exact origin of the term is unknown, many believe it’s an acronym for “police.” The term can be used positively or negatively, depending on the context. [13]
  16. 16
    Smokey In America, “Smokey” is often used to describe the police. This slang term became popular with the 1977 action comedy movie Smokey and the Bandit . But even before the movie, “Smokey” was a common slang term to refer to law enforcement. [14]
  17. 17
    The Man Sometimes, you’ll hear police officers referred to as “The Man” in America. This slang term for police originated in the 1960s and 1970s and was given to authority figures believed to “suppress.” Today, the term isn’t as derogatory, but still refers to a man in a position of power. [15]
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Section 2 of 3:

Other Police-Related Slang

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  1. 1
    Berries and Cherries “Berries and cherries” refers to the lights on a police car. You know those classic blue and red lights on top of a patrol car? Yep, those are known as “berries and cherries” within law enforcement. [16]
  2. 2
    Bird “Bird” is an American slang term for a police helicopter. In the UK, a “bird” may also be called a “chick.”
  3. 3
    Nick In the UK, a police station is sometimes referred to as a “nick.” The exact origins of this slang term are unknown. [17]
  4. 4
    Panda Car In the UK, a “panda car” is a police car. The slang term refers to the original design of British police cars from 1967, which featured large panels of black and white. [18] Similarly, you may also hear these cars referred to as “paddy wagons” around Liverpool.
  5. 5
    Paw Patrol “Paw Patrol” is a British slang term for K-9 or Dog Units. This phrase actually came before the hit Canadian children’s television show Paw Patrol .
  6. 6
    Sam Browne A “Sam Browne” refers to a police officer’s belt. This slang term comes from the man who came up with the idea of wearing a second belt upon losing his arm, General Sam Browne. [19]
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Section 3 of 3:

Lingo & Jargon Used By the Police

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  1. 1
    10-4 “10-4” is police slang for “Got it!” or “Okay.” This is a quick way for an officer to say they understand information relayed over walkie-talkie or radio. [20]
  2. “BAC” is an abbreviation of “blood alcohol content.” Officers will typically use this acronym when referring to a drunk driver or a specific case or individual. [21]
  3. 3
    Deuce “Deuce” is a police slang term for someone driving under the influence. This slang term is most commonly used in America, specifically California. [22]
  4. 4
    FIDO In police lingo, “FIDO” is short for “forget it, drive on.” Officers will use this abbreviation over the radio to tell other officers a situation isn’t worth looking into or investigating. [23]
  5. 5
    Hookem and Bookem “Hookem and bookem” is a common phrase used to describe someone being handcuffed and booked into the system. The phrase became popular outside of law enforcement with the Hawaii Five-O catchphrase “Book ‘em, Danno!” [24]
  6. 6
    House Mouse A “house mouse” is an officer who doesn’t go on patrol. This police slang term is often used to negatively depict an officer or teammate who doesn’t go out to “do their job.” [25]
  7. 7
    Mirandize To “Mirandize” someone is to read them their rights. Officers generally “Mirandize” or read someone their Constitutional rights when they’re being arrested. The term comes from the “Miranda Rights,” which became enforced after the 1966 Supreme Court case Miranda v. Arizona. Since then, officer have to inform arrestees of their rights while being taken into custody. [26]
  8. An officer will say, “Put a rush on the bus” if an ambulance is needed right away. This phrase is typically only used in life-threatening situations over the radio or to another officer. [27]
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-21199782
      2. ↑ https://www.etymonline.com/word/cop
      3. ↑ https://slangpedia.org/slang-for-police/
      4. ↑ https://slangpedia.org/slang-for-police/
      5. ↑ https://www.dictionary.com/browse/fuzz
      6. ↑ https://rcmp.ca/en/corporate-information/about-rcmp
      7. ↑ https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gumshoe
      8. ↑ https://slangpedia.org/slang-for-police/
      9. ↑ https://www.clinkhostels.com/city-tips/british-slang/
      1. ↑ https://www.oacp.ca/en/news/media-release-opp-provincial-constable-andrea-degagne-receives-2022-oacp-award-of-excellence.aspx
      2. ↑ https://slangpedia.org/slang-for-police/
      3. ↑ https://www.scribd.com/document/294959008/police-slang-doc#content=query:plodd,pageNum:13,indexOnPage:0
      4. ↑ https://slangpedia.org/slang-for-police/
      5. ↑ https://www.dictionary.com/browse/smokey
      6. ↑ https://slangpedia.org/slang-for-police/
      7. ↑ https://www.businessinsider.com/cop-lingo-terms-what-they-mean-2019-1
      8. ↑ https://www.clinkhostels.com/city-tips/british-slang/
      9. ↑ https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/panda+car
      10. ↑ https://www.police1.com/police-products/duty-gear/articles/sam-browne-and-beyond-a-look-at-duty-belts-719BDvHDR1WpM1Bp/
      11. ↑ https://www.cityofws.org/538/Codes
      12. ↑ https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/handbook/california-driver-handbook/alcohol-and-drugs/
      13. ↑ https://lsd.law/define/deuce
      14. ↑ https://www.businessinsider.com/cop-lingo-terms-what-they-mean-2019-1
      15. ↑ https://www.businessinsider.com/cop-lingo-terms-what-they-mean-2019-1
      16. ↑ https://www.businessinsider.com/cop-lingo-terms-what-they-mean-2019-1
      17. ↑ http://www.mirandawarning.org/whatareyourmirandarights.html
      18. ↑ https://www.businessinsider.com/cop-lingo-terms-what-they-mean-2019-1

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